SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies outfielder Jordan Beck flashed a smile to hitting coach Hensley Meulens after his liner bounced just inside the right-field line to complete his batting practice round.
Beck’s positive outlook in the final make-or-get-optioned days of Spring Training paid off during Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to the Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields.
A rookie last season whose debut was interrupted by a fractured left hand, Beck entered camp among the expected starters. But the .182 batting average he carried into Wednesday raised the specter of him having to begin the season at Triple-A Albuquerque.
However, Beck went 2-for-4, improving to a .208 batting average, and stole two bases. One hit was an opposite-way single, the other a right-on-right, pull-side double on a cutter from Juan Morillo. He fouled off fastballs at 99.6, 100.1 and 100.2 mph. The game ended when former Rockies utility man Garrett Hampson leaped to snatch Beck’s 105.2 mph liner in the ninth.
“You show up at the ballpark every day to compete,” Beck said. “Sometimes it doesn't roll your way. We might be looking at numbers, but what matters is when the last cut is done, it’s how many ballgames can you win, and can you help your team win? That’s what I’m out here trying to do.”
Could Wednesday be the start of a big finish?
“He’s capable -- that’s a good sign,” manager Bud Black said. “I like the ball in the corner [for the double]. That was a bullet to end the game. He had some good swings.”
As the 38th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Beck is best served by starting regularly. If the Rockies determine that the swing they want has arrived in time for the season opener against the Rays, no problem. If not, he’ll still make his starts.
But the Rockies and Isotopes are worlds apart.
“You have to think about it because we also have to find a place to live, and you’ve got to move stuff around,” Beck said. “There are a lot of things we don’t know and we’re closing down days to figure it out.
“You can’t hit the panic button. This game isn’t for panickers, I can tell you that. So I’m just going to reset, keep going, continue to pursue.”
Beck earned his high Draft status by slugging .553 in three seasons at the University of Tennessee. He has slugged .509 over 194 Minor League games. Last spring, while earning the Abby Greer Award as the Rockies’ Spring Training Most Valuable Player, he showed the ability to slug and an intelligent approach to batting practice and cage work.
By all assessments, the intangibles have remained this spring. But he has struggled to swing on the same plane as the pitch, so contact has been soft -- except for his two home runs. Staying alive for the double off Morillo was a step forward.
Most of Beck’s work has been right-on-right. The Diamondbacks’ Jordan Montgomery, against whom he grounded out to the right side, was one of the few left-handed pitchers he has faced. If Beck is in the Majors, the Rockies will start or use him as a pinch-hitter against lefties.
Beck is vying to start in the corners, serve as designated hitter on rare occasions when Kris Bryant plays the outfield and spell Brenton Doyle occasionally in center.
Doyle and Nolan Jones are set in the outfield. True center fielder Sam Hilliard’s offensive troubles (.056, 21 strikeouts) open the door for one of the other three spots. Beck is competing with three who have had solid offensive camps -- Sean Bouchard, veteran non-roster invitee Nick Martini and Rockies No. 8 MLB Pipeline prospect Zac Veen, who plays some center.
“We come here to play good, and you know when you’re not doing exactly what you should be doing,” Beck said. “But right now you try to get as many at-bats as you can, keep stacking them, then see what happens.”
BACKFIELDS IN MOTION
- Bryant, who didn’t play on Wednesday, is 3-for-25 (.120) with a homer in 10 well-spaced games as the Rockies stay mindful of his longtime back issues. Black said Bryant plans on getting eight at-bats in Minor League games on Thursday. Bryant will have 40-50 total at-bats, counting the Minor League games.
- Righty rotation member Ryan Feltner struck out six and yielded one unearned run while throwing 72 pitches over five innings in a Minor League game.
SPRINT FOR SPOTS
The Rockies looked at three right-handed pitchers in Wednesday's game for what appears to be three open spots on the staff. Non-roster invitee Jake Woodford started and gave up one run in 2 2/3 innings with two hits, two strikeouts and one walk. Bradley Blalock threw two scoreless frames with one hit, two strikeouts and two walks. Jake Bird struck out two in two perfect innings.